CEO of Innovate Finance, Charlotte Crosswell responds to the Home Secretary’s new startup visa scheme:

“Innovate Finance is delighted with today’s announcement by the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, on the introduction of startup visas by Spring 2019.

This builds on the key findings from our recent report “Accessing a Global Talent Pool”, which highlighted that not only is the UK FinTech sector highly internationalised with 42% of employees coming from overseas, but equally that these individuals provide a complement to our domestic talent pool, adding to the UK’s strength and depth in technical talent.

Today’s announcement is further recognition that the UK’s digital economy, including sub-sectors such as FinTech, continue to provide an engine for growth and innovation.

Moreover, in providing a faster and smoother route to start a business in the UK, the startup visa seeks to directly address some of the key challenges currently facing entrepreneurs, as they navigate the UK’s immigration system.

There is of course more to be done, especially around balancing a flexible immigration system post-Brexit, with the development of domestic skills and education – but this is a very welcome step in the right direction.”